Close Shave

I AM awed by the ''cutting edge'' architecture represented by the new courthouse in downtown Orlando. It reminds me so much of a giant electric razor that I refer to it as the ''Norelco Building.''Bob WilsonORLANDO

The expert: Ben Lerer, co-founder of Thrillist.com, a Web-based newsletter that seeks out the top restaurants, sporting events, services and gadgets for guys. The product: A razor. What I want: Dump the electric shaver and move to wet shaving. Although electric shaving can be faster and simpler, it's much harsher and usually requires hair to be dry and brittle to get a close shave. I must have: A razor that's easily rinsed -- great wash-through -- so I can see what I'm doing. A triple blade gives a closer shave (and -- ouch!

GEORGE KARL won't have to shave his head after all. The Seattle coach was spared when his SuperSonics lost, 101-90, to Cleveland on Saturday night, stopping their season-opening winning streak at 10 games. Karl had promised to shave his head if the Sonics matched the NBA-record 15-0 start set by Washington in 1948. ''We didn't want that to happen,'' the Cavaliers' Mark Price said, smiling.Karl, who coached the Cleveland team that got off to a 2-19 start in 1984, took it in stride. ''If we're 10-1 over the next 11 games, I'll be very happy,'' he said.

Question: My boyfriend wants to shave his head but is scared he'll botch the job. I've offered to help him but don't really know how. Do you have any tips? Answer: Since trial-and-error is not an option, I suggest your boyfriend follow these guidelines from the experts at The Art of Shaving, a national chain that sells men's grooming supplies. First, use electric clippers to buzz the hair to a really short, easy-to-shave length. To prepare for shaving, rinse the buzzed hair with warm water, then apply pre-shave oil to the entire scalp.

Coach Bernie Carney fulfilled a homecoming pledge by getting a haircut at midfield after Umatilla's 21-14 victory Friday night at Bulldog Field.It was fitting, considering the close shave the Bulldogs survived in the final minutes against Melbourne Central Catholic.After building a 21-0 lead through three quarters, the Bulldogs nearly gave it away as the third-ranked Hustling Bees scored twice within 1:30 and recovered an onside kick.But Umatilla's defense toughened up after that and ran out the clock to improve to 3-1 overall, 1-1 in Class AA District 5. Melbourne Central Catholic fell to 5-1, 1-1.''What happened was all our star defensive players were cramping up,'' said Umatilla's Darrell Mitchell, who scored all three Bulldog touchdowns.

Three homeless men bashed another one in the face with the porcelain lid of a toilet tank and shaved his head because of his snoring, police said. Garry Campbell, 41, was listed in good condition with a fractured eye socket, a broken nose and cuts on the head. Three men were arrested in the attack Saturday. No immediate charges were filed. Sgt. David Overton said Campbell was part of group of homeless people who had taken refuge from the rain in a vacant apartment, where they fell asleep after drinking most of the day. ''Mr.

To understand why there are hundreds of shaving products on the market, you need only know that the U.S. razor and blade industry alone accounted for $680 million in retail sales last year.The economic incentive for a piece of that action has engendered a steady parade of ''innovations'' and ''technological breakthroughs'' -- some undeniably helpful, others less so. Nevertheless, we are in a relative golden age of shaving compared with what our parents experienced. Our blades cut sharper, glide smoother and rarely nick the skin without provocation; our shaving creams are embarrassingly richer in moisturizers, emollients and conditioners.

President Clinton said Wednesday that daughter Chelsea - not a close shave - was responsible for a red scratch on the side of his head. ''I got this playing with my daughter, I'm ashamed to say,'' Clinton said, laughing. He said he was ''rolling around, acting like a child. It reaffirmed that I'm not a kid anymore.'' Spokeswoman Dee Dee Myers had told reporters Tuesday that Clinton scratched himself shaving, causing the four-inch mark below his right ear. But her boss had a different story Wednesday.

Hey, it's a tossup as to which is bigger news.But we'll be civilized.The Osceola campaign of the Heart of Florida United Way has made history.For the first time, the local campaign has topped $1 million in donations.The hard-working crew under 1994 campaign chairman Don Miers raised $1,000,910 - a big increase over last year's $887,000.In fact, Miers was sweating it out Friday, doubting they'd finish the campaign that day with having met their goal. Then someone offhandedly presented him with a challenge: If they made it, he'd shave his moustache.

Nobody could ever say that Humphrey Bogart was just another pretty face on the big screen. Say, like Robert Taylor. Nor could any motion-picture fan state -- with any reasonable ring of authority -- that Humphrey Bogart was a snappy dresser, say, in Cary Grant's class. But listen, brothers and sisters. That thespian sure could kiss. Leastwise, that was the impression one carried away from the picture show after paying for the privilege of watching Bogey maneuver his lips onto those of Lauren Bacall in one of their early movies.

Nobody could ever say that Humphrey Bogart was just another pretty face on the big screen. Say, like Robert Taylor. Nor could any motion-picture fan state -- with any reasonable ring of authority -- that Humphrey Bogart was a snappy dresser, say, in Cary Grant's class. But listen, brothers and sisters. That thespian sure could kiss. Leastwise, that was the impression one carried away from the picture show after paying for the privilege of watching Bogey maneuver his lips onto those of Lauren Bacall in one of their early movies.

As a longtime fan of the satire on Saturday Night Live, I remember the brief Dan Ackroyd skit almost 30 years ago in which he played a TV huckster hawking a three-blade disposable razor (at a time when twin blades were available but single blades were still the norm). The Ackroyd character confidently told the viewer that three blades would shave closer than two, and that the viewer would buy it because "you'll believe anything." This prescient skit has come to mind several times as I have followed the legal war currently being waged between Gillette and Schick over whether Gillette's three-blade Mach3 (introduced in 1998)

I was very surprised to see [Mike Bianchi] making a `shave my head' guarantee in the Sentinel this morning (No risk of a clip by picking 'Noles, Oct. 11). The best indication that Miami would win was the oddsmakers making UM the underdog. I hate it when the Hurricanes are picked as favorites in games with so much emotion. Having been in the Navy for 27 years, I am confident that I would be able to give you a close shave. Of course, that includes all hair on your head. Whether I get to do it or not, I would like to see it done in a public forum.

Running off at the typewriter . . . Let's try this again: I will shave my head, legs, armpits, back and cat if Temple beats Miami. .. . And not that I'm one to rub it in, but where are all the UF fans who were all over me in this space last week after my "ridiculous" prediction that the Hurricanes would trounce Florida in the Swamp? I offered to shave what little hair I have left if the Gators won, and not one UF fan has since acknowledged my brilliance by sending me free stuff. Where's my complimentary hair transplant, UF doctors?

Based on the best seller by John Grisham, The Pelican Brief (1993) is a white-knuckles thriller. It tells the story of a New Orleans law student who concocts a theory linking the deaths of two Supreme Court justices to powerful people in or near the White House. Twenty-four-year-old Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts) sets her theory down in what she calls the "pelican brief." She gives it to her boyfriend, who, after showing it around, is promptly murdered. Darby becomes a target too. While running for her life, she contacts investigative reporter Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington)

If Chicken Run didn't give you your fill of clay, head to the video store to see the earlier works by Nick Park and Aardman Studios, the filmmakers who brought clay chickens to life. Wallace & Gromit: The Aardman Collection and Wallace & Gromit: The Best of Aardman Animation both came out in 1996 and feature the short clay animations that made Park famous; the tapes are built around the three Wallace & Gromit films that launched Park's career. Gromit is a mute, knitting, newspaper-reading dog and Wallace is his daft, cheese-loving, tinkering, ever-so-English owner.

Question: My boyfriend wants to shave his head but is scared he'll botch the job. I've offered to help him but don't really know how. Do you have any tips? Answer: Since trial-and-error is not an option, I suggest your boyfriend follow these guidelines from the experts at The Art of Shaving, a national chain that sells men's grooming supplies. First, use electric clippers to buzz the hair to a really short, easy-to-shave length. To prepare for shaving, rinse the buzzed hair with warm water, then apply pre-shave oil to the entire scalp.

You may remember that last year Nabisco decided the 65-year-old LifeSavers five-flavor roll needed a makeover. To make the hard candy a bit more modern, the company asked consumers to decide whether the pineapple flavor should be replaced by watermelon or strawberry. In a victory for tradition, consumers told Nabisco they like pineapple just fine, thank you very much. Pineapple overwhelming defeated those upstart flavors and will remain in the five-flavor roll along with lemon, lime, wild cherry and orange.

QUESTION: I started losing my hair about five years ago, right after I turned 40. Now all I have left is this ridiculous-looking fringe at the base of my scalp and a few stray hairs on top. I decided to try the Michael Jordan cue-ball look, but each time I picked up my razor to shave my head, I got cold feet. (Cold hands?) It felt so awkward, and I was sure I would cut myself. How embarrassing. I realize I could get my head shaved at the barber shop, but I'd rather do it myself. Cheaper and more convenient.